Volterra series modeling of spatial light modulators

We present a multiple-input, single-output, weakly nonlinear model of spatial light modulators by use of a second-order Volterra series and describe an experimental method to measure the nonlinear transfer functions by means of sinusoidal perturbation and synchronous detection with a lock-in amplifier. We also present an application of this method to a liquid-crystal light valve.     

Evaluation of an automated repetitive sequence-based PCR system for subtyping Enterobacter sakazakii

Enterobacter sakazakii is regarded as a ubiquitous organism that can be isolated from a wide range of foods and environments. Infection in at-risk infants has been epidemiologically linked to the consumption of contaminated powdered infant formula. Preventing the dissemination of this pathogen in a powdered infant formula manufacturing facility is an important step in ensuring consumer confidence in a given brand together with the protection of the health status of a vulnerable population. In this study we report the application of a repetitive sequence-based PCR typing method to subtype a previously well-characterized collection of E. sakazakii isolates of diverse origin. While both methods successfully discriminated between the collection of isolates, repetitive sequence-based PCR identified 65 types, whereas pulsed-field gel electrophoresis identified 110 types showing > or =95% similarity. The method was quick and easy to perform, and our data demonstrated the utility and value of this approach to monitor in-process contamination, which could potentially contribute to a reduction in the transmission of E. sakazakii.     

Characterizing user navigation through complex data structures

As part of the general study of user navigation through interactive databases, a set of indices is proposed to characterise users' search sequences. These indices are presented as an attempt to capture some of the psychologically significant aspects of the movement of users within interactive data-bases. An example of the use of the indices is given in reference to an experiment to compare front-ends to a data-base program. Their strengths and weaknesses are discussed in the light of this experiment. Their potential as a basis for the precise definition of search strategies such as browsing and scanning is also considered.     

A conceptual model of human-computer interaction?

A framework is described for conceptualizing the interactions between people and computers which, it is hoped, will provide the basis of a theoretical model of human-computer interaction (HCI) sufficient to stimulate and guide research in the field. HCI is viewed as an exchange whose primary purpose is to affect the states of the agents that are involved. The exchange is ultimately between people but is partly mediated by artefactual agents acting as intermediaries or drones of their human owners. A distinction is drawn between interface and interaction, and the purposes of an interaction in this context are identified and discussed. In particular, the important purpose of morphogenesis is further elaborated. On the basis of this, a brief comment is made on what this implies for the improvement of interactions and then a longer comment is made on the implications for the separability of front ends. The conclusion is reached that, even on engineering grounds, the notion of a separate user interface management system is inherently flawed and that the current trend towards separable 'interfaces' is an undesirable development.     

生物软组织切割过程建模

自行设计和制造了一台可对切割力和刀具位移进行实时测量的生物软组织切割装置,并对猪主动脉壁组织开展了切割实验,对其切割特性进行了分析。切割力在组织未被切破之前随刀具位移非线性增大,呈典型的J形曲线关系;当切割力增大到一定程度时,组织被切破,切割力迅速减小;随后切割过程相对比较平稳,切割力在较小的范围内波动,呈现增大-减小的波浪形式。整个切割过程可被分为三个阶段：变形阶段、破裂阶段和切割阶段。根据能量平衡对切割过程中各个阶段能量之间的转换关系进行分析,并建立了各个切割阶段的切割力模型。在变形阶段,切割力表现为典型的非线性J形曲线关系,一个指数函数被用于拟合变形阶段的切割力;在切割阶段,根据能量平衡方程建立了切割力模型;而对于破裂阶段,由于时间非常短,切割力由破裂时的切割力直线减小。比较发现,模型所得切割力能够很好地与实验所得切割力吻合,证明切割力模型是正确的。     

Health and safety aspects of irrigation of raw-eaten food crops with reused water

The Monterey Wastewater Reclamation Study for Agriculture (MWRSA) has Completed its first year of a five-year pilot effort to investigate and to demonstrate feasibility of food crop irrigation with reclaimed municipal effluent. The project comprises a 96-plot field trial for statistical comparison of three water treatments: an eight-hectare commercial scale farm for demonstration of water reclamation for growing lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, and artichokes; an aerosol study, a virus assay, market studies, and other ancillary investigations. First year results preliminarily indicate that the main hypothesis of the study will prove to be true, i.e. “raw-eaten food crops irrigated with properly treated municipal wastewater effluent are safe for human consumption”.     

Knowledge representations for database metadata

We introduce the notion of metadata and the role it plays in a user's understanding of data in a database. We survey the kinds of metadata present in database schemas through an Abstract Conceptual Schema, and also the kinds of metadata associated with frames in knowledge engineering tools. Finally we look at networks used for natural language understanding, (KL-ONE and MEMORY), and describe a metadata knowledge representation (MAKR) which relates database metadata to a KL-ONE style meaning representation. Examples in MARK are used to illustrate the kinds of metadata surveyed in the first part of the paper.     

The future of man-machine interface research: a discussion and a framework for research

The British Government's decision to fund research, through the Alvey Programme, into the Man-Machine Interface (MMI) has challenged the ergonomics community to respond with an appropriate short-term research plan. Most significant of the many reasons why this response has been largely ineffective is the inability of ergonomists to come up with a coherent statement of the major research issues and to present a strategy for examining them. Some frameworks have been suggested elsewhere in the literature but here we present one which is tailored specifically to the needs of information handling systems. The approach involves a three-tiered conceptualisation of the problem area, the three levels being (from lowest to highest): 1. Traditional 'knod and dials' ergonomics. 2. The cognitive ergonomics of programme design. 3. The ergonomics of information and knowledge structures.     

Programmable spatial filtering with bacteriorhodopsin

We describe a programmable spatial-filtering system using bacteriorhodopsin (BR) film as a programmable, optically addressed spatial light modulator illuminated by a single wavelength of light. We use a computer-controlled mirror scanning system to write time-varying filter functions to the BR film and present proof-of-principle experimental results that demonstrate several elementary filtering operations.     

Quantitative analysis of apoptotic cell death using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Quantification of apoptotic cell death in vivo has become an important area of investigation in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We have devised a noninvasive analytical method to estimate the percentage of apoptotic lymphoblasts in doxorubicin-treated Jurkat T-cell ALL cultures, using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR). We have found that the ratio of the methylene (CH2) resonance (at 1.3 ppm) to the methyl (CH3) resonance (at 0.9 ppm) signal intensity, as observed by 1H NMR, is directly proportional to the percentage of apoptotic lymphoblasts in vitro. The correlation between the CH2/CH3 signal intensity ratio and the percentage of apoptotic lymphoblasts was optimal 24 to 28 hours after doxorubicin treatment (r2 = .947, N = 27 samples). There was also a direct temporal relationship between an increase in the CH2/CH3 signal intensity ratio and the onset of apoptosis as detected by nuclear morphologic analysis, fluorescein-annexin V flow cytometry, and DNA gel electrophoresis. Thin-layer chromatography confirmed that a dynamic and/or compositional change of the plasma membrane, rather than increases in lipase activity or fatty acid production, appears to account for the increase in the CH2/CH3 signal intensity ratio during apoptosis. 1H NMR may have clinical utility for the early noninvasive assessment of chemotherapeutic efficacy in patients with ALL.